Thomas Burnett, 1st
Laird of Kemnay, was the second son of James Burnet of Craigmyle. He married Margaret,
only child of John Pearson of Edinburgh. He purchased the estate of Kemnay in
Aberdeenshire from Sir George Nicholson in 1688. He did not live long to enjoy his new
purchase as he died in February 1689, three months after the death of his wife.
Their elder son Thomas (1656-1729) succeeded to the estate. He studied at the University of Leyden
and was admitted to the Scottish Bar. After his succession to the estate Thomas employed a factor
to run his affairs for him so he could continue his travels in Europe. In 1713 he married
Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Brickenden of Inkpen, Berks, England. Their son George
(1714-1780) was to become the third Burnett Laird of Kemnay.
George became the first of the improving Lairds of Kemnay and by 1759 he had some 130 acres laid out
with woodland and enclosed fields. It was in his time that the avenue was planted and much of
what became known as the wilderness was planted. He married Helen, daughter of Sir
Alexander Burnet of Leys in 1734.
Alexander Burnett (1735-1802), their son, was for several years Secretary to Sir Andrew Mitchell of
Thainstone who was Minister to the Court of Berlin. Following Mitchells death, he
was Chargé dAffaires for two years. He returned home in 1772 and settled in
Aberdeen. On the death of his father in 1780, he continued the work of development on the
estate. In 1781 he married Christian, daughter of John Leslie, professor of Greek at
Aberdeen and of Christian, daughter and heiress of Hugh Fraser of Powis. They had 6
children (one of whom died as an infant), including John (1786-1847) the 5th
Laird, who married Mary, daughter of Dr. Charles Stuart of Dunearn, Fife. Following
Alexanders death in 1802 his widow carried on much of the management of the estate.
She continued to live at Kemnay until Johns marriage on 1814.
John continued the improvements at Kemnay, utilising the services of John Smith, the first City
Architect of Aberdeen. He had 8 children, including Alexander George, 6th Laird of Kemnay
(1815-1908) and George (1822-1890) who was to become Lord Lyon King of Arms.
It was during Alexander George Burnetts tenure as Laird of Kemnay that much of the agricultural
changes took place on the estate. In 1849 he married Letitia Amelia, daughter of William
Kendall and by her had four children including John Alexander, the 7th Laird.
Letitia Amelia died in 1855 and he married Anna-Maria Pledge in 1877 by whom he had
another four children. Anna-Maria died in 1885 and then he married Emily Julia Burch in
1893.
John A. Burnett married Charlotte Susan, daughter of Arthur Forbes Gordon of Rayne, succeeding to
the estate at age 56. Unfortunately, John A. had received no formal training on estate
management and having no real income, he had to borrow considerably to live. It was during his tenure
in the 1920s that much of the estate was sold off. He and his wife had six children, including Arthur
Moubray, 8th Laird (1872 1948).
Arthur Moubray Burnett worked in the Merchant Marine from 1895 until 19067 and then went to India where
he remained until the outbreak of World War I, when he joined the Calcutta Scottish,
serving with them in East Africa. He married Muriel, the widow of his friend Seymour
Langham in 1921. His elder daughter Susan Letitia was born in October 1922 and his younger
daughter Jean Muriel Moubray was born in 1926.
Susan Letitia served with the WRNS during World War II. She met and married Fredrick J. Milton who
was serving with the South African Air Force. After the war they farmed in South Africa. Susans
mother died in 1963 and in 1964 she returned to Kemnay.
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The above is an abbreviated version of the history of the Burnetts of Kemnay, written for the House of Burnett by Susan Letitia Burnett, the 9th (and current) Laird of Kemnay. For more information regarding the Burnetts of Kemnay, click here |